Bail condition modified in GST matter: court allowed release on bond with sureties and time-bound post-release deposit.

The Madras HC modified a pre-release bail condition requiring prior deposit of a large amount in a GST-related matter. After considering the petitioner's request for time to deposit the amount after release and the opposing contention that a substantial deposit was justified, the court restructured the release terms. Bail was permitted on execution of a bond for Rs. 10,000 with two sureties of like sum, subject to deposit of Rs. 2,50,00,000 within ten days from release, failing which the bail would stand dismissed. The remaining conditions were left unchanged.

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Issues: Whether the bail condition requiring deposit of Rs. 50,00,000 before release from custody should be modified and, if so, what the revised conditions ought to be.

Analysis: The petitioner was in custody and sought a limited modification of the earlier condition so that the entire amount could be deposited within ten days from the date of release. The competing stand was that the amount represented the petitioner's fixed liability in the GST matter and that a substantial deposit was warranted. Taking both sides into account, the earlier pre-release deposit condition was reconsidered and the release mechanism was restructured.

Conclusion: The condition was modified. The petitioner was directed to be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs. 10,000 with two sureties of like sum, and to deposit Rs. 2,50,00,000 within ten days from the date of release, failing which the bail would stand dismissed. The remaining conditions were left unchanged.

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